Suction cleaner



Nov. 8, 1955 w. G. SECK ET AL SUCTION CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1953 MM "9 .mm km k\ 1/ y a mm m mm Q m a 1.. RN %N I G x r QM mm m 8 Q @fi w & NW. lmml WIMWIHHMHH IMMMMMMMMHwwww \w m R WV Nov. 8, 1955 w. G. SECK ETAL SUCTION CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1953 INVENTOHS Werner 6. Seek 8 F ig. 2

Nov. 8, 1955 w. ca. SECK ETAL SUCTION CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1955 v um mm Illllllv INVENTORS Werner 6. Seek 8 United States Patent Z,7ZZ,996 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 SUCTION CLEANER Werner G. Seck, Canton, and Dale C. Gerber, North Canton, Ohio, assignors to The Hoover Compan' North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 5, 1953, Serial No. 359,693

9 Claims. (Cl. 183-58) This invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to a cleaner of the canister type having builtin facilities for shaking the filter bag and emptying its contents in a simple, sanitary and expeditious manner.

The invention deals with a suction cleaner construction employing a permanently installed cloth type filter, and features a simple and efiective means of discharging the collected dirt into a grocery sack without permitting the escape of dirt and dust into the room. By the use of the invention, it is possible to thoroughly shake the cloth filter bag without removing it from the cleaner and without allowing any dust to escape. This is accomplished by opening the cover for the filter chamber, clamping the mouth of a grocery sack over the wide mouth of the filter, and then thoroughly shaking the filter into the paper container by means of a collapsing handle secured to the filter and normally concealed by the cleaner casing. After waiting a moment for the dust to settle, the bag is removed from the cleaner and thrown away. The filter cover is then relatched and the cleaner is ready for further cleaning operations.

Accordingly, it is a prime object of the invention to provide a new suction cleaner construction of the canister type having a permanently installed cloth filter with simple and eflective means for discharging its contents into a throw-away container.

Another object is the provision of a cleaner having an installed cloth filter with means for turning the same wrong side out into a disposable receptacle separate from the cleaner and without allowing dirt to escape into the room.

A further object is the provision of a manually operable shaking of the suction cleaner designed to hold the filter properly centered in the cleaner normally and which is manually operable as an incident to the removal of the dirt therefrom for thoroughly shaking and reconditioning the filter.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification of two illustrative embodiments for practicing the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a canister suction cleaner incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section showing the cleaner up-ended and the disposition of parts when emptying the filter bag;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view through the bottom portion only of the second embodiment; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the top half of the cleaner while the filter is being cleaned.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the first embodiment comprises an elongated, generally rectangular casing 10 divided by a vertical partition 11 into a power unit chamber 12 and a filter chamber 13. As shown, chambers 12 and 13 are approximately of the same size. The bottom 14 for both chambers is spaced somewhat above the floor to provide a shallow chamber 15 opening downwardly to the floor and serving normally to conceal the collapsing manual operator for the filter bag, as will be described more fully below. The lower rim of casing 10 has an inturned flange 16 to the lower edge of which rubber feet 17 are secured.

It will be observed from Fig. 1 that the casing comprises a lower section 18 and a removable upper section 19 havingtheir overlapping rims held in assembled position by screws 20. The top wall of easing section 19 overlying the filter chamber has a large opening through which a large diameter but short conduit 21 extends. A flange 22 projecting radially from the outer wall of this conduit is rigidly connected to the rim of the filter chamber opening as by rivets 23. The inner end 24 of conduit 21 has a channel 25 providing a seat for the open upper end of the cloth filter bag 26. The filter bag may be secured in channel 25 in any suitable manner.

The lower end of the filter bag is of somewhat smaller diameter than the inlet end and is securely permanently to a recess 27 formed in the upstanding rim of a cup shaped metal stamping 28. Projecting upwardly from the center of cup 28 is a boss 29 having a downwardly projecting thimble member 30 secured to the upper end of the boss by a rivet 31.

The means for holding the filter normally centered within filter chamber 13 and for reconditioning the filter will now be described. Note that the bottom wall 14 of the filter chamber is punched upwardly to form an outwardly flaring circular collar 32. This collar provides a pilot for guiding the lower end of thimble 39 into the opening provided by the collar and also serves as a guide and fulcrum for the filter shaking handle. Projecting downwardly from the opposite sides of thimble 30 are a pair of bearing tabs 33 through which a bearing pin 34 for the shaker handle projects.

The inner end of the filter shaking handle 35 is provided with an elongated slot 36 through which the assembly pin 34 extends. When the pin 34 is located at the right hand end of the lost motion connection provided by slot 36, end 37 of the shaker handle bears against a depressed portion 38 of the filter chamber bottom. Accordingly, it will be clear that button 38 acts to hold the filter in its proper operating position as well as to hold the handle 35 captive against bottom wall 14 of the cleaner. The handle can be released to its operating position by shifting it to the right in slot 36, this movement being permitted by a downwardly opening slot 39 in rim 16 of the cleaner casing. When pin 34 is located at the left hand end of slot 36, the handle can be pivoted freely about the pin so that end 37 can be brought into axial alignment with thimble 30. The handle 35 can then be shifted axially so that end 37 is seated within the thimble, as best illustrated in Fig. 2.

Note that a rather thick and resilient gasket ring 40 is secured to the bottom 14 of the filter chamber in the area closely surrounding collar 32. The bottom of the cup 28 seats against this gasket when the shaker handle is locked in its collapsed position and forms an air-tight seal so that air cannot enter the filter chamber through the opening provided by flanged collar 32. The gasket also assists in holding the. handle collapsed in a manner made apparent by the drawings.

The filter chamber is provided with a cover 41 hinged V to the top wall of the casing at 42. The rim of the cover opposite the hinge is turned up at 43 and cooperates with a conventional type toggle clamp 44 to hold the cover in closed position. A resilient gasket ring 45 secured to the inner wall of the cover bears against the outer end of conduit 21 to form an air seal when the cover is in closed position. A suitable tubular coupling fitting 46 projects upwardly at an angle from the center of cover 41 and serves to conduct the dirt laden air into the filter bag.

Referring now to the power unit end of the cleaner casing, it will be seen that this chamber houses a vertical axis motor-fan unit generally designated 47. This unit comprises a conventional multi-stage fan 48 below which is located the electric driving motor 49. The flanged junction 50 between the fan chamber and motor is seated on a rubber collar 51 supported, in turn, by a flange ring 52 secured to the inner wall of the cleaner casing. A second rubber ring 53 seated in a metal ring 54 rests against the upper rim of the fan casing. It will, therefore, be clear that the motor power unit is cradled in the two rubber rings 51 and 53, and is held firmly seated on the flanged ring 52 by a plurality of compression springs 55 positioned between bosses 56 on ring 54 and the top wall of the cleaner casing. Rings 53, 54 are held against displacement by bosses 56 in cooperation with pins 57 carried by the cleaner cover.

The fan chamber has a central inlet eye 58. The discharge port for the fan is not shown but will be understood to open into the upper end of motor 49 so that the clean air discharged by the fan passes over the motor to cool it. Thereafter, the air is exhausted from the cleaner casing as through the hose coupling socket 59. The air passage 60 formed by the top wall of the power unit chamber and the top wall of the fan casing is in communication with the filter chamber through an opening in the upper end of partition 11. A suitable carrying handle 61 is secured to the upper wall of the casing as clearly shown in Figure 1.

Operation The operation of our suction cleaner will be quite apparent from the foregoing description. The usual cleaning tools and suction hose may be connected to coupling 46 in the usual way and the motor switch, not shown, is turned on to start the motor-fan unit. The dirt laden air stream enters the top of the filter bag and the dirt separates out in the filter bag. The clean air escapes through the bag and passes through passageway 60 into fan eye 58. The air then passes over the motor to cool it and exits from the cleaner through hose coupling 59. When it becomes desirable to clean the filter, latch 44 released and cover 41 is swung to its open position. The mouth of a grocery sack is then telescoped over the outer end of conduit 21 and clamped thereto by rolling the garter spring clamp 63 upwardly until it seats in groove 64. The cleaner may then be up-ended onto the power unit end as shown in Figure 2. This exposes shaker handle 35 concealed within chamber 15 in the base of the cleaner. The handle is slid downwardly on pin 34, swung to a horizontal position, and then shifted axially so as to seat in thimble 30. The handle can then be pushed inwardly through collar 32 so as to turn the filter inside out and dumps its contents into the grocery sack 62. As this occurs, the operator manipulates the handle so as to shake the filter vigorously and dislodge all of the dirt into the paper bag.

After the reconditioning of the filter has been completed in this manner, the handle is withdrawn from the cleaner and swung backward into its collapsed position. This operation includes sliding the handle out of the thimble and then pivoting it into chamber 15. It is also shifted axially to the left thereby pulling cup 28 tightly against sealing gasket 40. The resiliency of this gasket serves to hold the handle against displacement and also acts to prevent air from entering the filter chamber through collar 32.

While this operation is taking place the dust has set tled in sack 62. The operator then rolls clamp 63 downwardly on conduit 21 thereby releasing sack 62. When the sack has been withdrawn, the cover is latched in closed position and the cleaner is restored to operation.

The second embodiment, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is substantially identical with that described except for the filter shaker handle. Accordingly, the identical parts of the second embodiment are designated by the same characters as in Figs. 1 and 2 and need not be redescribed.

The only element which differs from the first construction is the shaker operating handle 35'. This handle is made in two parts 71 and 72 pivoted together by a friction hinge 70. This arrangement permits the use of a much longer handle than is possible in the first embodiment. The slot and pin connection 73 provide together with friction hinge a relatively rigid filter shaker handle when it is in its open operating position. A spring clip keeper 74 is carried by section 71 and grips the end protection 72 to hold the handle folded. When the shaker mechanism is not in operation, the handle is of course folded to its collapsed position, as illustrated in Fig. 3. However, when the shaker is being used, the handle is unfolded to its extended position illustrated in Fig. 4 to provide a much longer and more convenient handle for shaking the filter bag. Note that the longer handle permits the filter bag to be turned completely wrong side out and, in addition, enables the operator to tension the walls as a further aid in dislodging the dirt quickly.

While we have shown and described but two modifications of our invention, it is to be understood that these modifications are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. We do not wish to be limited to the particular structures shown and described, but to include all equivalent variations thereof, except as limited by the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a tank type suction cleaner having a motor-fan suction unit therein, a filter chamber in said cleaner, an air pervious cloth filter bag in said filter chamber having a large area inlet mouth, the filter chamber including a tubular member forming a large area inlet having the mouth of the filter secured thereto, said tubular member projecting outwardly beyond said mouth to provide a seat for the mouth of a dirt receiving receptacle, means for clamping the mouth of a dirt receiving receptacle to the outer end of said tubular member exteriorly of the filter chamber, and manually operable means connected to the bottom of said filter exteriorly thereof to project the filter into the dirt receiving receptacle to discharge the contents of the filter thereinto when the receptacle is clamped in place over the inlet mouth of said filter.

2. In combination with a tank type suction cleaner having a filter chamber with a large area inlet opening, an open topped filter bag having the rim of its open top secured to said filter chamber inlet opening, manually operable filter shaking means secured to the wall of said filter at a point remote from the open top thereof, means for temporarily securing the mouth of a dirt receiving receptacle to the open top of said filter when it is desired to empty the contents thereof, said filter shaking means being operable to turn said filter bag inside out and to empty its contents into a dirt receptacle secured to the open top thereof, and means for rendering said filter shaking means inoperative and simultaneously concealing said filter shaking means within said cleaner when not in use.

3. In combination, an elongated suction cleaning casing having a motor-fan unit compartment in one end and a filter compartmet in the opposite end thereof, a motorfan unit in said first named compartment, an open topped filter bag having its rim secured to a large area opening in the wall of said filter compartment, means for temporarily clamping the mouth of a dirt receiving receptacle to the open top of said filter bag, and filter shaking means secured to the bottom of said filter, said shaking means being normally folded against said cleaner, and means for extending said shaking means from its folded posi tion to a position wherein it is manually operable to empty the contents of said filter into a dirt receiving receptacle secured to the open top thereof.

4. In combination, an elongated suction cleaner casing having a motor driven suction unit and a filter compartment in the opposite ends thereof, a large area opening in the top of said filter compartment, an open topped filter bag suspended within said filter compartment and having its mouth secured to the rim of said large area opening for the reception of litter within the confines of the bag, means for temporarily securing the mouth of a dirt receiving receptacle to the filter compartment over the open top of said filter, and manually operable means secured to the bottom of said filter projecting out of said casing and operable from the exterior thereof for dislodging the dirt from said filter and discharging the same into a dirt receiving receptacle secured to the open top thereof.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 including an operating handle for said manually operable means, and means for normally concealing said handle within the base of said elongated cleaner casing.

6. Filter shaking mechanism for the filter bag of a suction cleaner of the type having a casing, a filter compartment and an open topped filter bag suspended across an inlet opening of said casing, said mechanism comprising a long handle pivo'tally secured to the bottom of said filter bag, said handle extending through an opening in said casing in a wall thereof remote from said filter inlet opening, and being manipulatable through said casing wall opening to shake said filter vigorously to dislodge dirt therefrom, and means for normally holding said handle folded against the exterior wall of said casing, and means cooperating with said handle folding means for sealing said handle opening against the entrance of air into said casing.

7. Filter shaking mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said handle is provided with a lost motion connection with said filter.

8. Filter shaking mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said handle is formed in two sections, and a hinge connection-between said handle sections whereby said handle can be folded for compact storage and extended to provide a long operating handle to shake said filter bag.

9. In combination, an elongated suction cleaner casing divided into a motor-fan unit compartment at one end and a filter chamber at the opposite end, said filter chamber having a large area opening through a wall thereof which is normally closed by a releasable cover, a filter bag having a large inlet opening secured across said filter chamber opening and suspended in said chamber in spaced relation to the side walls thereof, a handle having one end connected to the bottom of said filter bag and projecting through an opening in said casing to the exterior thereof, means for normally holding said handle folded against said casing, means for securing a dirt receiving receptacle to the filter chamber opening across the inlet opening of said filter bag when said cover is released, and said handle being manipulatable from the exterior of said casing for emptying the contents of said filter into a dirt receiving receptacle secured across the inlet of said filter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,864,622 Sutherland June 28, 1932 2,060,776 Bender Nov. 10, 1936 2,077,572 Lofgren Apr. 20, 1937 2,084,492 Houser June 22, 1937 2,222,077 Kahn Nov. 19, 1940 2,286,421 Kahn June 16, 1942 2,555,231 Gerber May 29, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 294,501 Great Britain July 23, 1928 410,524 Great Britain May 24, 1934 

